Source: Orthodox Church in America OCA Holy Synod holds Spiritual Court in case of former Archbishop Seraphim of Canada WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CN [OCA] On Monday, October 19, 2015, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America convened a Spiritual Court at Saint John the Divine Church, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, to hear the case of Archbishop Seraphim, retired Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada. The Holy Synod of Bishops will render a decision in due course. [subscribe2]
Source: Orthodox Church in America DETROIT, MI [OCA] Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will hold their annual Fall Session at Saint Andrew’s House here Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 2015. Among the many items on the agenda are: the reports of Archpriests John Jillions and Eric G. Tosi, OCA Chancellor and Secretary respectively, and Melanie Ringa, OCA Tresasurer. Ms. Ringa will present the 2016 budget as passed by the members of the Metropolitan Council at their meeting in late September 2015 [see related story], which reflects the new finance plan…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity BE INFORMED – Orthodox Christian Unity in the USA A STUDY GUIDE to HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT AND WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY OF CANONICAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS TIME FOR THE LAITY TO ACT! The Assembly of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in the USA is a work in progress. The Assembly has concluded its 6th Meeting held on September 15-17, 2015. The bishops could not reach a consensus and move ahead to develop a blueprint for a unified Orthodox Christian Church in the USA. Many see the Church as a…
Source: The National Herald BY THEODORE KALMOUKOS NEW YORK – The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America on October 13 made a unanimous decision to defrock George Passias due to the sexual scandal he is embroiled in with Ethel Bouzalas. Related Stories Archdiocese Issues Statement on Recent Scandal – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America October 6, 2015 NEW YORK – In recent days, with heavy heart we have been confronted with a most regrettable matter involving a member of our Clergy, Rev. Fr. George Passias, and an adult female parishioner. We acknowledge the expected reaction of the…
Source: RT News Divers in Crimea have erected a large cross in the shape of an anchor off the Crimean coast. It heralds the start of construction work on building what they promise will be a full blown underwater church. The three-ton cross is just the beginning of an ambitious plan by Archimandrite Tikhon, a diving enthusiast and the project’s initiator. “The underwater church will look like a church. There will be icons inside – just like in a real church. Most probably they will be bas-reliefs of icons in stainless steel or stone,” RIA Novosti cites him as saying. He…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity How will we move forward to renew the Orthodox Church in the USA? Now that the hierarchy has demonstrated that it cannot move ahead in consensus, it is time for the spiritually mature laity and clergy to cooperate together and see how we can be a critical mass to move ahead as the Apostolic missionary church that is the Orthodox way. Where do we begin to make our Church in the USA canonical? A good place to start is to reread or read for the first time the Project for Orthodox Renewal. You can read the chapters online…
Source: Journey to Orthodoxy Mass Orthodox Christian Baptism in Rwanda By Fr. John Through the blessings of His Grace Innocentios, the Bishop of Orthodox Diocese of Burundi and Rwanda; on 10th October 2015, the parish priest of Holy Trinity/Nyamata Rev. Petros Bicamumpaka has baptized 32 people in a small lake called Kamatana located in Nyamata Sector, Bugesera District in Eastern Province of Rwanda. Please keep these neophytes to grow spiritually. From the Bishop’s Desk in Kigali.
Source: Christian Science Monitor by Mary Beth McCauley, Correspondent Church attendance is down, but those who go are more devout. Here’s what draws them. NEW YORK — It could be hard to make your way to pray at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan on Sunday mornings. There’s the distraction of New York City pulling you elsewhere – the pace, the intensity, the famousness of it all. Then there are the thoughtful, sometimes vital, diversions of the St. Bart’s community itself: the outdoor cafe, the homeless shelter, the Thomas Merton books in the lobby. There are invitations to programs ranging from…
Source: Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University 2016: Tradition, Secularization, Fundamentalism Thursday, June 23 – Saturday, June 25, 2016 | Fordham University School of Law | 150 W. 62nd St. (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) | New York, NY Register for the conference at forever.fordham.edu/orthodoxyconference. While the very meaning of the “secular” remains contested, Christians globally are self-identifying in different ways in relation to an imagined secularization, all the while discerning how to live as a tradition. This intersection between tradition, secularization and fundamentalism is especially evident in both post-Communist Catholic/Orthodox countries and the American context, where fundamentalist-like responses have emerged…
Source: The National Herald NEW YORK – Alex Prodes, a 53-year-old former Greek Orthodox priest (defrocked by choice), lives on his Social Security disability income, two years ago tried to kill himself. The divorced father of two – he sees his children only twice a year – referring to his failed suicide attempt, he asked his doctor: “why didn’t I die?” Prodes didn’t want to live anymore. He says that in 1979, 17 years old and the leader of the altar boys at the Evangelismos Church in Easton, PA, Prodes was sexually abused by Archimandrite Stanley Adamakis, and it was…
Source: The National Herald Fr. Passias’ Mistress took 30K from Greek Orthodox Church NEW YORK – Ethel Bouzalas, the woman identified as the mistress of Fr. George Passias according to various sources, including a videotape of their affair, and which resulted in the Archdiocese banning Passias, who was the priest at the St. Spyridon Church in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights, from pastoral duties, took $30,000 from the parish before she left, according to documents obtained by The National Herald. Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, the Archdiocesan Chancellor, emailed Bouzalas urging her to return the money or else the…
Source: Pravoslavie.ru CHICAGO’S GREEK ORTHODOX BISHOP DEMETRIOS APPOINTED TO STATE’S ATTORNEY’S HATE CRIME PROSECUTION COUNCIL Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, has been appointed to the Hate Crime Prosecution Council by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. “I am honored and humbled by this appointment, I have witnessed the damage done by hate crimes against many in our communities,” said Bishop Demetrios. “I hope to create an atmosphere of understanding and security for victims of these crimes, in the hope that may come forward and justice can be served.” Bishop Demetrios is deeply committed…